In the pressurized culture of hockey player development, combined with the ever-present temptation to get ahead the easy way, it would seem that the sport has miraculously escaped from the world of performance-enhancing drugs.
At least in minor hockey. For now.
The Saskatchewan Midget Hockey league is consistently the best midget AAA loop in Canada. And according to Jim Pedersen, the league’s substance abuse co-ordinator, performance-enhancing drugs aren’t even on the radar.
“Every year I visit all the teams and do a presentation about all sorts of drugs, from tobacco to crystal meth,” Pedersen said. “I shoot down all the reasons for doing drugs ... but I don’t even talk about steroids and stuff like that. I used to a bit, but I don’t think it’s a big issue and it’s never surfaced as an issue.
“Maybe it’s more of an issue than I think, but I haven’t thought it was a big deal.”
With the league catering to mostly 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds, maybe performance-enhancing drugs aren’t an issue quite yet, but where the problems can arise is with chewing tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs.
The league doesn’t have a policy per se, but the Prince Albert Mintos definitely do. And coach Tim Leonard makes it pretty clear.
“At every level it happens, but it’s not allowed with us,” Leonard said. “Whether they do it at home in the summer time with their parents, that’s out of my control. But while they’re around me, and this dressing room, it’s zero tolerance.
“I’ve given second chances to a handful of kids over the years. If it’s chewing tobacco or whatever it may be, they get brought in and they get told that that’s one strike, but don’t do it again. If you do it again, you’re going to have to leave and then you black-ball yourself.”
And Mintos forward Taylor Fauchoux says he doesn’t think it’s a problem, especially with this group.
“We try to stay away from weed,” Fauchoux said. “We have a fun time, but there’s lines we have to follow to be a good team. If (Tim) finds out someone is doing it, there would be a lot of consequences.”
Even energy drinks are banned in the Mintos locker room.
“I wouldn’t think that they’re old enough to really need that (stuff),” Leonard said. “All that enhancement stuff is just a quick shot anyways. We don’t allow it in the room.”
And with a record of 13-3-2-1 this year, there’s not a lot of complaining about the team’s policies.
They may be strict, but it’s for a good reason.
And if everything that is said is true, the Mintos and the midget AAA circuit are fortunate that performance-enhancing drugs are barely given a second thought.
mjanzen@paherald.sk.ca
